Reflector for search-lights and the like.



O. A. PARSONS, G. G. STONEY & E. BENNETT.

REFLECTOR FOR SEARCH LIGHTS AND THE LIKE.

- APPLICATION PILED' MAY 15, 1908. 992,043.

Patented May 9, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I I. IILH I iPar-solm Q1 A. PARSONS, G. G. STONEY & E. BENNETT.

REFLECTOR FOR SEARCH LIGHTS AND THE LIKE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 15, 1908.

Patented May 9, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' siderable initial compression.

CHARLES ALGERNON PARSONS, GEORGE GERALD STONEY, AND EIBEINEZER BENNETT,

OF NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND;

T0 SAID PARSONS.

SAID STONEY AND BENNETT ASSIGNORS REFLECTOR FOR SEARCH-LIGHTS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 9, 1911.

Application filed May 15, 1908. Serial No. 433,125.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES ALoERNoN PARSONS, GEORGE GERALD SToNEY, and EEEN- EZER BENNETT, subjects of the Kin of Great Britain and Ireland, all residiig at Heaton lVorks, Newcastle-upom-Tyne, in the county of Northumberl'and, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Reflectors for Search-Lights and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to glass reflectors of the type frequently used for search lights and the like devices in which the reflectors are subjected to pcrcussions and vibrations or to an expansion of the glasses owing to the heat.

The object of this invention is to subject the reflector glass to considerable compression in order to prevent on the occurrence of fractures caused by vibrations or the like a displacement or dispersal of the glass.

Theinvention consists for this purpose in the arrangement of anelement or elements provided with tensioning means engaging, with the periphery of the reflectors espe-- cially of curved reflectors. By this arrangement compression forces acting toward the center of the reflector are exerted on thereflector in order to put the glass under a con- The consequence of this is that the glass is not only made more capable of resisting fractures but the same is prevented from being completely destroyed on the occurrence of fractures and the broken parts of the reflector are held" in their proper reflecting positions.

Several forms of carrying the invention into efl'ect are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows in elevation a reinforcing compressing ring surrounding the reflector.-

Fig. 2 ISa'SGCtlOII on a vertical. diameter through Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows in elevation an arrangement in 'which wire 'netting is stretched over the back of the reflector. Fig. 4 represents a section on a diameter through Fig 2. Fig. 5 shows in elevation an arrangement in which a-thin metal backing is stretched over the back of the reflector, and Fig. 6 represents a section along the diameter of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 shows in elevation an arrangement in which the reflector is compressed by cranked rods. Fig. 8 represents erable initial com a section along the diameter of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a section showing another way of tensioning the crank bars.

In carrying the invention into effect according to one form as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a reflector, a, is surrounded by a ring, 71, arranged as shown so as to put a considressive stress on the lass. In a further deve opment of this idea 3 own in Figs. 3 to 4, the reinforcing and backing means may consist of wire netting, e, drawn tightly over the back of the reflector, a, by means of the straining rin w and set screws, y. These screws hear at tlieir ring, h, abutting on'the edge 0 the reflector to which it may if desired, be cemented, In

Figs. 5 and 6, a sheet, e, of thin flexible metal is shown stretched tightly in contact with the back of the reflector and retained in positionby the ring, :17, over which the edge of the thin metal is turned. A ring, it, of

metal or other suitable material surrounds and abuts on the edge of the reflector and the thin metal sheet is strained over this. In both these modifications,

provided on the face of the reflector and in the caseof Figs. 5 and 6 suitable means may be provided for contracting the ring, w, in order to adjust the tension in the thin metal backing sheet, e.

In a further modification (see Figs. 7 to 9) the reflector is held together by means of a system of cranked rods, e, disposed radially over'the back of the reflector and held together near the center of the same by means of a. ring or binding of wire, 2 en'- gaging in hooks, formed the cranked rods which project toward the center ofthe reflector, the other ends of the rods whichlie near the periphery of the reflector being hooked or suitably cranked to engage with the edge. In the form of fixing shown in Fig. 9, the ends of the cranke rods which project towardthecenter of the reflector, are screw threaded and passed through the rin 'w, and are-provided with nuts at their en s and in some cases springs also in order to enable the compressive stress placed upon the glass to beadjusted with ac1l1ty. Further the ends of the'cranked rods adjacent to the peri hery of the reflector may be-formed as s part of Fig. 9, that is, they may be cran ed substantially at right angles and screw oints on the diamond cuts may I on those ends of own in the up er.

threaded, passed through a ring, m, and provided with nuts; '0, and in some cases springs also, by which means the ring, 41:, may be drawndown on to the surface-of the reflector near the periphery. vIt will be understood in these last described. modifications diamond cuts may if desired be provided.

It will be understood that other modifications may be made to this invention without departing from the general idea of the same as set forth at the beginning of this specification. In allicases silicon or other suitable material may be substituted for glass. Having now described our invention 'what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l 1. In combination with a glass reflecting disk compressing means operable to compress the reflector disk' toward its central axis.

2. In combination in a glass reflector, 'a backing, means adapted to tension said backing after the backing is placed on the reflector whereby the reflector is compressed in a direction toward its central axis.

3. In combination in'a glass'reflector, a

backing, means'adapted to tension said backing, protectingmean's placed between said flector in position whereby the reflector is compressedin a direction toward its central axis.

6. In combination with a glass reflector- .displacement preventing means engaging with the periphery of said reflector and acting to put an initial compression on the glass,- said displacement preventing means comprising a peripheral ring abutting on the edge'of the reflector; wire netting attached to a separate ring and engaging the back of periphthe reflect-or and passing over said eral rang and means for tensiomng said w1re netting whereby the reflector is expanded. against said peripheral ring and put in co'mpression.

71in combination with a" glass reflector displacement. preventing means engaging with the periphery of sald reflector and act-.

ing toput an initial compression on the glass, said displacement preventing means comprising a peripheral ring abutting 'on the edge of the reflector,'wire netting attached to a separate ringand engaging the back of the reflector and passing over said peripheral ring and screws passing through said separate ring'and bearing against the peripheral ring whereby atension is put on the wire netting-thus expanding the reflector against said peripheral ring and putting an initial compressionthereon. 1

Intestimony'wh eof, we aflix'our signa tures inpresence of two witnesses.

CHARLES ALGERNON PARSONS. GEORGE GERALD STONEY. EBENEZE'R BENNETT.

Witnesses:

HENRY GRAHAM DAKYM, J r., FREDERICK J ORDON HAY Bnnrom. 

